Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 483 - 301: Mary Arrives in Red Tide City (2)

Chapter 483: Chapter 301: Mary Arrives in Red Tide City (2)

More importantly, to find order again on the chaotic land.

Of course, this is not just pure charity.

In Louis’s plan, all refugees would be thoroughly documented, including names, original places of residence, relatives, health conditions, etc., all registered and managed categorically.

Women and children would be given priority in being assigned to wind- and snow-proof log cabins and receive food supplied uniformly, while young and strong individuals would be directly arranged to join construction teams.

They would go on to build city walls, pave roads, and set up domed houses…

If someone originally had skills, such as a blacksmith, carpenter, pharmacist, or leather worker, they would be prioritized to be placed into workshops or the military supply system, exchanging their skills for food and shelter, achieving self-sufficiency.

This “work for survival” system not only avoided security risks but also allowed Red Tide Territory to quickly absorb the manpower that was desperately needed.

Thus, on the post-disaster ruins of the Northern Territory, Red Tide Territory created order in another way.

And for these refugees who came all the way, this kind of order was almost an incredible gift.

War and famine push humanity to the limit.

For half a piece of moldy hard bread, brothers would draw knives, a mother would leave the last bite for her child and starve to death herself, yet without the mother, the child wouldn’t survive long either.

They have seen such scenes too many times in their escape. They’ve experienced the coldest refusals and the cruellest expulsions.

So, when they intermittently heard a rumor during their escape: “There’s a city taking people in the Southeast.”

At that time, almost no one dared to believe it was true, that there could be such a paradise in the Northern Territory.

Even so, they clung to a faint hope, almost extinguished, following the blurry rumor, stumbling one step at a time.

Desiring only a bowl of hot porridge, a piece of bread, a chance to live.

Until they truly reached the gates of Red Tide Territory, and saw the steaming porridge in the clay pot brought by soldiers, officials under the wooden shed looked up and gently asked their names, and children were wrapped in clean cotton blankets.

Only then did they realize for the first time that they were not abandoned by this land.

Some elderly broke into tears on the spot, kneeling repeatedly on the snowy ground, their voices hoarse.

Young fathers, eyes red, kept their faces covered tightly, not daring to let the tears fall.

More children, cupping warm clay pots in their hands, cheeks reddened by the cold, yet smiles trembling at the corners of their mouths.

They laughed out loud while drinking hot porridge, as if surviving a disaster, as if waking from a dream.

To them, Red Tide Territory is not just a city.

On this barren land where even the wind and snow carry despair,

It’s like a blazing flame.

In the deep winter night, tearing through the darkness, illuminating a path for survival.

…

But Mary and her group, being families of the Broken Blade Knight Order, did not need to register like the refugees.

Compared to the scene in front of the refugee wooden shed, the reception before them seemed like a different world.

A formation of Red Tide Knights stood in formation, the sound of neat hooves and light clinking of iron armor resounding.

At the front, an elder in a dark robe stepped forward slowly.

He was neatly dressed, his silver-white hair combed meticulously, although traces of age etched his brow, they couldn’t conceal his steadiness and authority.

He was none other than Bradley.

Once a barely noticed steward in the Calvin Clan, now the true second-in-command of Red Tide Territory’s internal affairs.

Though he still insisted on calling himself “Lord Louis’s steward.”

Bradley gave a slight bow, his warm yet clear voice reaching everyone’s ears: “Everyone, it’s been a hard journey. Lord Louis has ordered me to personally welcome you all, please rest assured everything has been prepared for your accommodation.”

At this moment, the initial anxiety and tension in many people’s hearts were eased somewhat by the calm words of this old man.

“These are the officials responsible for welcoming you, they will lead you into the city to settle in,” Bradley smiled slightly, gesturing behind him.

A few young Red Tide officials quickly stepped forward, saluting the convoy: “Family members will be led by me next. I will accompany you along, introducing Red Tide City.”

The convoy slowly passed through the heavy city gates, entering the main road of Red Tide Territory.

A gust of air mixed with crisp frost and moist lime rushed towards them.

The young official on horseback at the front raised his hand, signaling the convoy to follow slowly.

There was an unmistakable pride in his tone: “This is the main road of Red Tide, paved with thick stone bricks. In winter, warm water circulates through embedded hot channels, melting snow and preventing slipping, avoiding collapse. It’s designed personally by Lord Louis.”

Mary stared blankly at the straight and wide road, almost forgetting to blink.

On both sides of the road, pines and cypresses were lined up neatly, thin frost hung on the branches, white and green intertwined, like natural guards.

The wind blew, carrying the scent of pine mixed with the cold air, bringing an indescribable tranquility.

“These pines and cypresses not only block wind and snow,” the young official continued, “but also serve as green belt dividers, complementing the drainage system. Winter snow and rain flow through the channels on both sides into the snowmelt pools, preventing the streets from flooding.”

Mary instinctively looked over, seeing the equally wide and narrow drainage ditches by the roadside, clean as if just wiped, the trickling snowmelt converging into a small pipe, eventually disappearing into the underground culverts of the city.

“Here in the Northern Territory? How is it possible?”

She could hardly believe the sense of order before her eyes was real.

There weren’t many pedestrians on the streets, yet all was orderly.

Vendors called softly, a group of children chased and played under the eaves, quickly stopped by the teacher beside them: “Get back in line!”

The children muttered as they lined up, then were led towards the school.

“That’s one of the city’s schools,” the young official explained following her gaze, “enrollment starts at age six, the excellent ones have the future potential to become deacons, accountants, even knights.”

Mary lowered her head, looking at the Yini in her arms, a rush of emotion surged in her heart.

Originally, she planned Yini’s life to be that of a Lady Knight, like herself. It was the best future for a girl in the Northern Territory she could think of.

But in Red Tide, perhaps her daughter’s future would be completely different. More choices are always better.

The carriage moved slowly along the main road, the clear sound of hooves gradually approaching from ahead.

Before long, a squad of Red Tide Territory knights turned out from a side street.

They were clad in silver light armor, draped in red capes, bright spears in hand, their horses’ manes trimmed evenly.

The sight somewhat surprised Mary.

She is the wife of a squad leader in the Broken Blade Knight Order, and often sees knights, so she should not be surprised by this.

But what stunned her was not the knights’ valor but the people’s reactions along the road.

An old woman gently pulled her grandson’s hand, softly reminding him: “Make way, the Red Tide Knights are coming.”

The tone was gentle, even with a touch of respect.

The little boy obediently stepped aside, his eyes bright, staring at the knights, couldn’t help but softly exclaim: “When I grow up, I also want to become a knight, of course!”

The vendors nodded and smiled in greeting at the knights, who would respond with a raised hand in return.

A raggedly dressed refugee was just stepping out of a porridge shed with a clay pot, hurriedly retreating when he saw the patrol squad.

Yet one young knight slightly leaned down, reached out, and steadied him, saying softly: “Slow down, don’t slip.”

The young official noticed Mary’s gaze, smiled, and explained softly:

“This is the edict of Lord Louis, the Red Tide Knights are not to suppress the people, but to protect their home and safety. If the people are afraid when they see the knights coming, then it’s his failure, and the Order’s failure.”

Mary felt a slight tremor in her heart.

In Frost Halberd City, knights symbolized power and violence, cold enforcers of order.

But here, knights seemed more like guardians, a shield over people’s hearts.

An unusual feeling suddenly rose in her heart, realizing that a different kind of relationship could exist between knights and the people.

She also understood why there was a sense of security in the air of Red Tide Territory that she had never felt before.